when it was first used in ancient Egypt.

Specifically, this attribute can impact how your hair reacts to henna and other dyes.

As defined byHealthline, porosity refers to how well the hair can ingest and sustain moisture.

Length of light-colored hair laid out between bowls of henna and applicator brush

If you have high porosity hair, then your strands are very porous.

This means your locks absorb moisture easily but have a hard time maintaining it.

As a result, your hair may absorb products easily but ultimately feel dry and frizzy.

Black woman floating in pool with hair submerged in water

YouTuberBiancaReneeTodayexplains that hair porosity is usually genetic but that heat and chemical damage are known to increase porosity.

Medium porosity is typically the desired hair jot down because it moderately absorbs and retains moisture.

Knowing your porosity will help you do this effectively.

Rear view of white woman applying henna dye to her curly hair